Tinker v. Des Moines (1969) established that student speech is protected unless it would cause what?

• A. Substantial disruption
• B. Legal issues for the school
• C. Insubordination
• D. Religious controversy

Answer: (A)

Student speech is protected unless it would cause a substantial disruption to the school’s operations. That is the core rule from Tinker v. Des Moines. In that case, students wore black armbands to protest the Vietnam War, and the Court ruled that the school couldn’t ban the armbands just to avoid controversy because there wasn’t evidence the armbands would substantially disrupt classes or discipline. So the important idea is that speech earns protection, but schools may regulate it if it would significantly interfere with how the school runs or with the rights of others. The other options don’t capture this disruption-based standard; the decision isn’t about creating legal issues for the school, insubordination, or religious controversy as a general rule.